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PI OriginalAdam DosterTuesday November 17th, 2009, 10:05am

Manzullo: Islam Is A "Savage Religion"

The rhetoric
offered up by the Illinois GOP in response to the proposal to transfer
detainees from Guantanamo Bay to the Thomson Correctional Center in
Northwest Illinois has so far been irrational and irresponsible. After
all, Illinois already houses 35 inmates arrested ...

The rhetoric
offered up by the Illinois GOP in response to the proposal to transfer
detainees from Guantanamo Bay to the Thomson Correctional Center in
Northwest Illinois has so far been irrational and irresponsible. After
all, Illinois already houses 35 inmates arrested on terrorism charges.
Since put behind bars here, they have gone "totally unnoticed," writes
the Tribune editorial board today. "They have shown there are no special risks from confining suspected terrorists in the Land of Lincoln."

Responding to the rash letter penned by GOP Rep. Mark Kirk and signed by numerous Illinois Republicans, the Sun-Times editorial board adds:

What
troubles us is the fear-mongering among those who oppose the plan --
beginning with U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, whom we once viewed (and repeatedly
endorsed) as a moderate and thoughtful fellow.

Kirk and
other excitable Illinois Republicans are warning that Illinois "will
become ground zero for jihadist terrorists plots." Can we get real
here?

But none of the comments were more unreal -- and
reprehensible -- than those from U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, whose
congressional district includes the Thomson prison. Speaking to WREX
about the plan to sell the facility to the federal government, Manzullo
said
of the detainees, "These are really, really mean people whose job it is
to kill people, driven by some savage religion." Watch it:

A "savage religion," Rep. Manzullo? Care to say that to the face of any of the 2.35 million Muslims currently living in America, thousands of whom serve in the military
that carries this country's flag into battle? Or how about the 1.57
billion Muslims worldwide, the vast majority of whom practice
peacefully and reject Islamic extremism?

Granted, horrible acts
have been carried out in the name of Islam. But the same is true of
Christianity. Yet somehow we don't think we'll hear Rep. Manzullo
using inflammatory generalizations to describe that particular religion.